Tracking device for automatic musical instruments.



D. MORANO.- TRACKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL XNSTRUM ENTS.

APPLICATION HLED AUG.I. 1916.

1,243,620. Patented Oct. 16, 1917 III", llull 6 "L? I will WITNESS; iwINVENTOIR.

BY 3 g m ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOMENICO MORANO, OE NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY LIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOWESER BROS., INC., OF NEW YORK,-N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TRACKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented Oct. 16, 1917.

Application filed August 1, 1916. Serial No. 112,498.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, DOMENICO MoRANo; a subject of the King of Italy, andresiding ,in the borough of Manhattan of the city of New York, county ofNew York, in the State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Tracking Devices for Automatic Musical Instruments, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to tracking devicesfor traveling webs and isconcerned particu larly with the application of such devices to theperforated note sheets of automatic musical instruments. In knownautomatic trackers,'whether pneumatic or mechanical,

lateral deviation is depended upon for initiation of the movement of thetracking members. Accordingly, such tracking devices where designed forapplication to sheets of a given width cannot be used with sheets of agreater width without rearrangement of the parts. By the presentinvention it is sought to provide improved means for insuringautomatically the certain tracking of a traveling web wherein initiationof the operation of the tracking members is not dependent upon latcraldeflection of the sheet but upon the frictional drag exerted thereby ona controlling member in the direction of movement of the sheet. Theoperation is in no wise dependent upon the condition of the edges of thesheet nor upon lateral deviation. The invention has been illustratedherein as associated with pneumatic devices for bringing about thedesired registration, which pneumatic devices have their primary valvescontrolled by a member which is actuated mechanically under thefrictional drag exerted by the sheet thereon in the direction ofmovement of the sheet. However, since it is believed that it is new toinitiate operation of automatic tracking devices by frictional dragexerted by the traveling sheet in the direction of its movement, thisapplication is intended to cover with breadth all devices so operatedwhether they be purely mechanical in character, or pneumatic orelectrical. It lies within the skill of one familiar with these devicesto substitute for the actuating element herein disclosed, other suitableactuating means and still retain the improved sary for an understandingof the application of the improved tracker thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the elements shown inFig. 1, parts being broken away in the interest of clearness.- Fig. 3 isa detail view looking at the-rear side of the controlling lever for theprimaries of the actuating neumatics.

Fig. i is a fragmentary detail view in plan of the controlling levershown in Fig. 3.

In Figs. 1 and 2 there are illustrated, somewhat conventionally, theusual elements of an automatic musical instrument, including thetracker-box a, the music roll I), the wind-on roll 0, and thetracker-bar d, allof which may be disposed in the usual relationship toeach other. Rotation of the wind-on roll 0 may be efi'ected through anysuitable driving mechanism associated with the sprocket c mounted on theprojecting end of the shaft of the spool. In describing the improvedtracking devices it has been elected to illustrate the wind-on roll asbeing shiftable axially for the purpose of restoring the traveling sheetto its intended path, but, as is well recognized in the art of trackingdevices, it is equally within the scope of this invention to mount thisroll fixedly in the tracker-box a and make provision for the shifting ofthe tracker-bar ii for restoration of the desired registration betweenthe perforations e in the notesheete and the usual ducts d in thetracker-bar.

In this embodiment there is mounted directly on the tracker-bar d, atthe rear of the music sheet 6, a pivoted bar or lever j", i

the forward edge of which may be beveled, as at f, to bear uniformlyagainst the reverse face ofthe sheet. The controlling bar is pivotedadjacent itsnmid point on antifriction bearings, such as pointed setscrews a g, the ends of which take into a bearing section f formed withthe bar. By this construction the bar is free to rock about the bearingscrews 9 in a manner which will appear. Formed on the support 72. forthe controlling bar and disposed at opposite sides of the bearing screws9 therefor, are two ports 2' connected with air tubes 71 and havingtheir open ends disposed directly under and near to the fiat face of thecontrolling bar f. For the control of the open end of these ports thebar f may be formed, if necessary, with suitable lugs f disposed,respectively, directly above these ports. The tubes 2" may be connectedwith suitable valve chambers, indicated conventionally at is, in whichmay be disposed secondaries of the usual type and which may communicatefurther through air channels formed in a suitable block Z with theinterior of two actuating motor bellows m, n. The valve chamber isconnected, as usual, with the main wind-pipe 0 by which suction may beapplied to the interior of the bellows m, 1, according to the positionoftheir secondaries for the purpose of collapsing one or the other ofthese bellows. v

Movement of the bellows m, a, may be communicated to the shiftablewind-on roll 0 through any suitable mechanical connections so organizedthat the movement of the roll shall always serve to restore thetraveling sheet to its normal path. Such mechanical connections in thepreferred form include an oscillating cam member 29 mounted rotatably ona short shaft 22', which may be secured to one side of the tracker-box0,, and this oscillating cam has formed on its curved face a cam groove79 in-which rests, preferably with an antifriction engagement, a finger72 formed on the end of a longitudlnally extending rod 3), the other endof which is engaged with the shiftable wind-on roll 0 through an arm 79The cam member 79 is secured operatively at opposite sides of its axis pwith the motor bellows m, n, through suitable rods m, n, the connectionof which with the cam may be adjustable through set screws Q carried incollars 9 through which the ends of the rods pass. Normally, theconnection between the rods m, n, and the cam member 79 is ad justed sothat the finger p rests adjacent the mid section of the cam-groove p andthe motor bellows m, n, are partially, and preferably equally, expanded.At this time, the beveled edge f of the controlling bar f bearsuniformly against the rear surface of the note sheet 6 and is maintainedin a truly horizontal position by the engagement of the note sheettherewith. When so positioned, as indicated in Fig. 3, the ends of theair-ports i are opened and atmospheric pressure is admitted .to each ofthe tubes i. The result of this is that the interiors of the motorbellows m, n, are placed in communication with the main windway 0 sothat these bellows tend to collapse. By reason of their opposedconnections with the cam p at opposite sides of the axls p, however,these bellows balance each other and cannot collapse. Likewise, theymaintain the cam in its mid position. If now, during travel of the musicsheet 0, it wanders, the frictional drag thereof on the controlling bar7 exerted in the direction of movement of the sheet will be sufiicientto rock the bar about its pivotal support and bring the bar to bearagainst the end of one of the ports 2', thereby closing the portwithout, however, changing the condition of the other port. Such changein position of the controlling bar 7 is indicated by dotted lines inFig. 3. The port 2' so closed cuts off atmospheric pressure to itssecondary, so that its motor bellows, say the bellows n, has itsinterior cut off from communication with the windway 0 while the otherbellows m remains in communication therewith. The bellows m thencollapses completely, while the other bellows n expands freely and thecam 79 is rocked about its axis 9. This rocking through the engagementof the finger p with the cam groove 79 serves to pull the rod 3) to theleft, as shown in Fig. 1, and with it shifts the wind-on roll 0 in thesame direction. It has been found that the deflection which accompanieswandering of the traveling web is such that the web will always initiateoperation of the tracking members in such manner as to restore the webto its proper line of' travel. After the deflection is relieved and theattendant differential frictional drag at opposite sides of the pivoteliminated the sheet returns the controlling bar f to its normal, trulyhorizontal position. This return of its controlling bar serves to openthe closed port 11 and restore the motor bellows m, n, to their balancedcondition, in which they oppose one another and hold the cam 79 in itsmid position. The sheet is so disposed with relation to the bar thatafter the bar is rocked and the sheet restored to its normal path oftravel, the sheet shall immediately act on the bar in such manner as toovercome the difierence of pressure acting in the valve seats f andrestore the bar to its truly horizontal position.

From the description given, it will be evident that there are threeconditions in the illustrated embodiment which contribute to theoperation of the device in the intended manner. In the first place, inorder to initiate operation of the tracking devices, there must be awandering of the sheet so that the frictional drag exerted on the bar inthe direction of movement of the sheet'at opposite sides of the pivotbecomes unequal. The differential frictional drag at opposite sides ofthe pivot is applied to the bar 7 by reason of the frictional contact ofthe sheet with the bar. Again, the sheet must be so disposed withrelation to the bar that the differential frictional drag at oppositesides of the pivot will act-upon the bar to rock it about its pivot.

In order to emphasize the general applicability of the improved devicesto traveling webs of any width andhavmg edges of any character, whethertorn or worn or regular, the sheet shownin Fig. 1 is indented along oneedge. Since edge control is not relied on, it is immaterial to thesuccessful operation of the improved device as to what condition theedges are in or as to how far the sheet extends to one side or the otherof the controlling bar 7.

As pointed dut hereinbefore, this application is intendedto cover withbreadth the improved principle of actuating tracking devices, asdescribed, and the frictional drag exerted on the controlling member inthe direction of movement of the sheet may be applied with equaleffectiveness to mechanical, pneumatic or electrical means for restoring the sheet to its normal path of travel. Again, this restorationmay be brought about by shifting of either meet the rolls or of thetracker-bar, it being only necessary that there be relative shifting ofthe note sheet and the tracker-bar.

The scope of the invention will appear clearly in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic tracker mechanism, pneumatic tracking devices havinga controlling member controlled by the frictional drag of the ,musicsheet thereon exerted in the direction of movement of the note sheet forinitiating operation of said pneumatic devices.

2. In an automatic musical instrument having pneumatic tracker devices,having means engaged with the face of the note sheet and actuated by thefrictional drag exerted thereon by the note sheet in the direction ofmovement of the note sheet to initiate operation of said trackerdevices.

3. In an automatic musical instrument the combination with the trackerbar, of pneumatic tracking devices to maintain registration betweenperforations in a note sheet and the ducts in the tracker bar, andhaving means actuated by the frictional drag of the music sheet on. saidmeans exerted in the direction of movement of the note sheet uponWandering to initiate operation of said tracker devices.

4:. In an automatic tracker mechanism pneumatic tracker devices,including a pivoted lever actuated by the friotlonal drag exerted by themusic sheet thereon in the direction of the movement of the sheet uponwandering to control the operation of said pneumatic devices. I

5. In an automatic tracker mechanism tracker devices, music rolls and atracker bar, means included in the tracker devices and interposedbetween one of the music rolls and the tracker bar and actuated by thefrictional drag of the music sheet thereon exerted in the direction ofmovement of the sheet upon Wandering to initiate operation of saidtracker devices.

6. In an automatic tracker mechanism the combination with music rollsand a tracker bar, of a pivoted lever included in the tracker devicesand disposed between one of the rolls and the tracker bar and engagedwith the face of the note sheet and actuated by the frictional dragexerted thereon by the note sheet in the direction of travel of thesheet upon wandering to initiate operation of said tracker devices.

7. In an automatic tracker mechanism, tracker devices including motorbellows to maintain the sheet in its normal path of travel, valves tocontrol the action of said bellows, and means actuated by the frictionaldrag exerted on said means by the music sheet in its direction ofmovement upon wandering to control said valves.

8. In an automatic tracker mechanism, tracker devices including motorbellows to maintain the sheet in its normal path of travel, a mainwindway connected operatively to said bellowsv and serving normally tosubject the same to pressure, valves to control the action of saidbellows, and means actuated by the frictional drag of the music sheetthereon exerted in the direction of movement of the sheetupon wanderingto control said valves.

' 9. In an automatic tracker mechanism, tracker devices including motorbellows to maintain the sheet in its normal path of travel, valves tocontrol the action of said bellows, and a pivoted lever engaged with theface of the sheet and actuated by the frictional drag of the music sheetthereon exerted in the direction of movement of the sheet to controlsaid valves.

10. In an automatic tracker mechanism in combinationv with the musicrolls and tracker bar, tracker devices including motor bellows tomaintain the sheet in its normal path of travel, valves to control theaction of said bellows, and a pivotedlever mounted between one of therolls and the tracker bar and actuated by the frictional drag of themusic sheet thereon exerted in/the direction of movement of the sheetupon wandering to control said valves.

11. In an automatic musical instrument in combination with the musicrolls and the tracker bar, one of the rolls and the tracker bar beingrelatively shiftable, tracker devices including a cam connectedoperatively to the shiftable member, and means actuated by thefrictional drag of the music sheet on said means exerted in thedirection of movement of the sheet upon Wandering to initiate movementof said cam.

12. In an automatic musical instrument in combination with the musicrolls and the tracker bar, one of the rolls and the tracker bar beingrelatively shift-able, tracker devices including a cam operativelyconnected to the shiftable member, motor bellows connected with the camto move the same and means actuated. by the frictional drag of the notesheet on said means exerted in the direction of mo vement of the' sheetto initiate operation of the motor bellows.

13. In an automatic tracker mechanism in combination with the musicrolls and the tracker bar, one of the rolls and the tracker bar beingrelatively shiftable, tracker devices including an oscillating camoperatively connected to the shiftable member,- motor bellows connectedto the cam at opposite sides of its axis and opposed to one another,

and means actuated by the frictional drag of the note sheet on saidmeans exerted in the direction of movement of the sheet to initiate thecollapsing of one of the bellows while permitting the expansion of theother.

14. In an automatic tracker mechanism,

tracker devices including motor bellows'to maintain the sheet in itsnormal path of travel, valves normally open to the atmosphere .ndconnected with said bellows operative y, and means actuated by thefrictional drag of the note sheet exerted in the direction of movementof the sheet to close one of the valves and initiate relative movementof the bellows.

15. In an automatic tracker mechanism, tracker devices including motorbellows to maintain the sheet in its normal path of travel,- a mainwindway connected' to the bellows andsub'jecting the same normally topressure, open valves controlling the con nection between said bellowsand the windway, and a pivoted lever actuated by the frictional dragofthe sheet thereon exerted in the direction ofinovement of the sheet toclose one of the valves and cut off its bellows from the main windway.

16. In an automatic musical instrument combination with the music rollsand the tracker bar, one of the rolls and the tracker bar beingrelatively shiftable, motor bellows, an oscillating cam, a supportingshaft therefor mounted on the tracker box, rods connecting said bellowsoperatively and adjustably with the cam at opposite sides of the shaft,connections between thecam andthe shiftable member and means to initiateoperation of the bellows.

17. In combination with DOMENICO MORANO.

an automatic tracker mechanism, a tracker bar, a note

